Kathmandu, November 10

Wai Wai Great Himalaya Cricket Academy is organising the Himalaya Cricket League at the Mulpani grounds from January 4-24 next year.

A total of six U-19 teams will take part in the two-day format tournament and the teams will be divided into two pools, informed the organisers at a press meet today. Top team each from both the pools will make it to the final.

“This is the first multi-day format men’s tournament organised by the private sector and we hope to get adequate sponsors for the event,” said GHCA President Sudeep Sharma.

“At a time when everyone is focusing on Twenty20 format cricket, we are organising the multi-day tournament as it is the base of the sport. We believe the tournament will provide much-needed exposure to the youth cricketers and the event will be beneficial for the players to make them ready for the highest level cricket.”

Sharma said another objective of the tournament was to contribute in producing youth cricketers and support in the overall development of the sport. “We came up with the idea of multi-day format cricket to produce talented youth players which will ultimately help in the growth of the sport,” said Sharma.

GHCA, which had organised the 50-over game a couple of years ago at Tundikhel grounds, has estimated a budget of five million rupees for two-day event. He said: “We will approach business houses for sponsorship and we hope to get support from them.”

Senior umpire Binay Kumar Jha said the first innings will be restricted to 60 overs and a maximum of 96 overs will be played per day. “As we are organising the tournament during winter, we will not be able to play 105 overs in a day,” said Jha. “We will award certain points for wicket, run and outright victory which will determine the winning team at the end of the match,” he added.